Monday, December 29, 2008

When I was nineteen, Santa gave me some cash for Christmas, instead of the usual mall gift certificates he'd been accustomed to bringing in my teenage years. I got on the phone the next day and booked a flight to visit my friend Holly in San Francisco for New Year's. No way was that cash going to sit in my pocket! Holly was my gorgeous Michelle Pfeiffer look alike friend with the sweetest laugh, like a bird and a Disney princess and a sunshiney birthday party, exactly the opposite of my goose-honking guffaws. Although we jetted around San Francisco all week long in our Cavaricci jeans, the thing I remember best about my New Year's visit was the taquitos. Taquitos. Oh, mama. Holly's family had the tradition of eating them on New Year's Eve. She told me how to make them and sent me on my way, and you better believe we've had them every New Year's since. (Holly's family -which now includes her five children and husband in NYC-even had them for Christmas Eve this year, too.) And the trend is spreading, I'll tell you. Once you've been to a New Year's taquito party, you just see if anything else will suffice for ringing in the New Year. (Pictured are baked (instead of fried) chicken taquitos with grapefruit salsa.)

First of all you'll need a filling. Begining in November, I make extra pot roasts, shreded chicken, etc knowing that these babies will be waiting in the freezer until the last night of the year. But don't worry if you didn't start in November, it's still not too late. I'm making some today too, since I make approximately 300 for my giant Italian family. My favorite fillings are green chili chicken, and a red chili beef, but I also do a vegetarian filling with black beans, mushrooms, jalapeno, etc. You'll need about 2 scant tablespoons of filling for each taquito. Heat corn tortillas on a dry hot griddle, or in the microwave between damp paper towels. Wrap the tortillas in a dish towel to keep them hot. Then place the filling inside the tortilla and roll it up and place it on a cookie sheet. Place the finished taquitos in the freezer. After a couple of hours, separate them and place them in zip top baggies back in the freezer, where they will patiently wait until needed. On New Year's night, you fry them in hot oil (or you can brush them with oil and bake them like the ones above) until golden brown and crispy and serve them with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream. And then you wake up on New Year's Day and repeat. And repeat. Indefinitely. And you'll think you're starting the New Year in paradise.Trust me; you'll love them. Leave a comment with a taquito testimonial if you've had them before!

And as for Christmas...

Here's a mural that the two charges painted, just in case Santa lost his way in a snow storm....

And my little boy, fast asleep, dreaming about the zero gravity car that he was sure he was getting....

And walking over for Christmas breakfast at Grandma's house

And checking out the loot with their cousin A

And in costume for our annual sincere and scrappy Nativity.

Did I tell you what I got from the man in red? A Latin primer. Ergo, I'd better get started conjugating. I got the Quiet Man the complete collection of Sherlock Holmes. Elementary, my dear Watson. I can't wait to get my hands on that, too. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and continue to enjoy it all week, month, and year long.

43 comments:

Prudy, I think you must read my mind every day. I have been wanting to make homemade taquitos for some time because my Hubby loves, loves this certain kind from the store. I am going to have to do it.I am making your Fresh Corn Tamales for New YEARS. I can't wait!

We went to El CHolo's for dinner Saturday night..YUMMY! Blue Corn Chicken Enchiladas with a verde sauce, guac and chips, warm tortillas with butter and salt (old-school, like they used to serve when you sat at the table)...it was lovely and I thought of you! Will have to make taquitos on New Years Day as I sacrificed my New Years Eve for a cheaper airfare!

I love Taquitos but have never made my own. I can't believe you make 300 of them--hope you get some help with it! These look delicious. It looks like you had a great Christmas--cute pictures! Have a wonderful New Years too.

Ali:I cook a pot roast on the stove with a can of dice mexican style tomatoes, an onion, a couple of cloves of garlic, and a heaping tablespoon of chili powder (or dried red chilies). When the meat is fork tender, I boil the juices down and remove any fat. I shred the beef and remove any fat again and then let it get cold. That's all! Good luck!

Anonymous:It's still coming, promise! The Italian children get presents on January sixth from La Befana, so I've still got a little time. Thanks so much for reading and for being interested! It'll keep me on my toes!

I love taquitos! And thank the heavens above even hubby likes them. I make mine with chicken or ground sirloin, and for those times I wanted us to eat healthier I've used the tofu crumbles (seasoned well) and hubby never knew the difference!Happy New Year if I don't see you again!

New Year's just would not be as wonderful without salty taquitos and lots and lots of guacamole. I look forward to this meal ALL YEAR long. I promise. Your veggie version are the best I have ever had in my life, and I can't wait to have them. If anyone out there has never made them, try them! Make the works to go with them and it will be a night to never forget. Wish we were there to fry (taquitos, of course) all night with you. Happy 2009!ps...the kids look so sweet.

i remember back in our college days you taught me how to make these one day between christmas and new years. we had ours on new year's eve at your suggestion and it was my favorite ny eve food ever. alas, my husband prefers to ring in the new year with my family's old tradition of monte cristo sandwiches and homemade applesauce. don't get me wrong, that's all well and good and takes me back to my childhood, but every year and wheedle and beg for him to let me do taquitos instead. and then every year i give in because he wants the monte cristos and he rarely cares. maybe this year i'll make them for new year's day. we'll have the deep fryer out anyway . . . hmm

ahaha SO awesomely cool Erin.... you have the Archie's playing on your blog.. my fav...fav!

And Taquitos.... oh I loved getting them on the corner in Mexico and fondly remember all the green taxi bugs.. YUM.. What a fab way to enjoy some holiday eats, and the pictures of the kiddies, SWEET... and did you say mile high cheesecake?

It would not be New Years without Taquitos! I love this meal and still remember the first time my talented sister introduced our family to this wonderful tradition for New Years. You kept making taquitos and your family kept right on eating them!I love this meal! It really is ideal for this long night Holiday. It keeps it casual and promotes fun conversations in the kitchen while those lovely taquitos are being fried. I wish I was there to eat a few with you. Do we have a taquito record yet Prudy? I wonder if we could beat our taco one? Happy New Years to you and your beautiful kids!

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About Me

I'm a fun-loving girl, given to flights of fancy and spontaneous purchases. But when it comes to cooking and eating, I'm a penny-pincher extraordinaire. I've got great recipes that'll save you big bucks. Stick around. It's gonna be fun!